TAKE PRIVATE OR CORRESPONDENCE LESSONS WITH BASSIST LUCAS PICKFORD

In addition to each students private goals, the Lessons tend to concentrate on;

a) CHORD SCALES and their practical applications to all different types of harmony.

b) IMPROVISATION over all kinds of chord progressions. Standard tunes, to Modal tunes, and everything in between. My goal is to get the student to the point where he/she in comfortable looking at a lead sheet with just the chords changes on it and feel solid about what scale fits what chord.

c) GROOVES in ALL styles. I always use a drum machine or a drum loop whenever I practice and during the lesson there is always one of the two keeping time for us to play over. We play during 90% of the lesson which keeps it's musical. My goal is to bring out what's already in you musically, not to impose my way of playing on you.

d) Various ALTERNATIVE PICKING TECHNIQUES that incorporate the thumb and first 3 fingers of the right hand as well as palm muting and various slapping techniques.

e) CHORDAL VOICING for 4-5 & 6 string basses. I use a 6 but any string combination has a vast array of chordal possibilities. This again brings Harmony into the picture. * The lessons are at my home in Aptos, CA right off of the Rio Del Mar Exit 10min from downtown Santa Cruz.

All you need to bring is your bass and a patch chord. I have amplification. If you would like to see clips of my playing as well as references from people like Marcus Miller, Kai Eckardt, Matt Garrison, and many others, feel free to go to my website or
http://www.myspace.com/picksband

*I AM ONLY ACCEPTING SERIOUS, DEDICATED, INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED PLAYERS, looking to fill in the "holes" in their harmonic/improvisational & groove knowledge. Please no cats who can't read music at all or don't know the names of the notes on the neck. You DO NOT have to be a great site reader, any certain "style" of player or a full time musician however. Just knowing the basics is fine.

I understand most people have busy lives with kids, jobs, bills to pay, and so on. All I ask is that you really want to learn and can come at least 1-2 times a month for private lessons and order at least 1 Correspondence Lesson a month if you are out of town.

The lessons in person are 1 hour and are $60. Correspondence Lessons are also 1 hour and are $70. For Private Lessons I only accept CASH and for Correspondence Lessons I only accept Pay Pal (which is just ljpickford@yahoo.com). NO checks or money orders of ANY kind. Just too many scammers out there, sorry.

To set up either kind of lesson

CONTACT: LUCAS PICKFORD AT:

e-mail me at ljpickford@yahoo.com

Thanks!